Rat neonatal immune challenge alters adult responses to cerebral ischaemia

Infection, inflammation, and hyperthermia associated with cerebral ischaemia are known to contribute to enhanced neuronal cell loss and more severe behavioural deficits. Because neonatal exposure to an immune challenge has been shown to alter the severity of inflammatory and febrile responses to a further immune challenge experienced in adulthood, we hypothesised that this could also alter temperature responses and neuronal survival after ischaemia.